Croner Signs with Buffalo Bills

[YardRat]

http://www.howard-bison.com/sports/fball/2009-10/releases/Croner_Signs_with_Buffalo_Bills


Will Croner has signed as a rookie free agent with the Buffalo Bills. The 6-2, 280-pound defensive end from Wilmington, DE, was voted to the All-MEAC second team this past season after recording 64 tackles that included 30 solos, 11.5 for losses and 3.5 sacks. Croner also forced two fumbles and had an interception to his credit.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Another vote of confidence for Maybin. :up:

[psubills62]

Another vote of confidence for Maybin. :up:

He's a DE, not an OLB. Has nothing to do with Maybin.

[Billz_fan]

He's versatile, a great thing for a young player in his position. I wish him well !

[OpIv37]

He's a DE, not an OLB. Has nothing to do with Maybin.

280 isn't much of a DE in the 3-4.

[Buffalogic]

280 isn't much of a DE in the 3-4.Yeah it is especially fresh out of school. 280 with a college body is a good start for DE. That would be such a super over-sized and slow LB it wouldn't even be funny!

[jimbohastle51]

another 5 technique. it is now inevitable to be that at least 3 UDFA make this roster. at least 1 reciever (guaranteed), a 5 technique DE, and 1 other and it might be a safety. dont count on whitner being here this season yet. with all our safety depth i wouldnt be surprised if some team had an injury in free agency and offered a 3rd for whitner that we wouldnt take it in a heart beat already knowing this is his last year here (no way he gets resigned).

[wmoz11]

Another vote of confidence for Maybin. :up:

Just like the RB we signed isn't much of a vote of confidence for Spiller, huh? UDFAs don't say anything about anyone on our roster except that we need camp bodies at that position.

[jimbohastle51]

also i have a pretty strong feeling that if wilson puts together another solid season he will be extended by mid season (like mcgee was) which would totally assure whitners exit. scott is paid like depth but byrd and wilson are our future at safety.

[OpIv37]

Yeah it is especially fresh out of school. 280 with a college body is a good start for DE. That would be such a super over-sized and slow LB it wouldn't even be funny!
so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

Oh well, I guess a UDFA out of Howard is just camp fodder anyway.

[wmoz11]

so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

Oh well, I guess a UDFA out of Howard is just camp fodder anyway.

Dwan Edwards is a prototypical 5-technique and he's 290. He's also 28 years old. I think this kid could put on 10 pounds in 6 years with a professional training regiment, no?

[BertSquirtgum]

op, i must say. you don't know what you're talking about with this 3-4 de size thing here. 6'2 280 is not bad size at all to start. they haven't had a years worth of nfl training. alex carrington is 6'5 280. what say you about him?

[BillsWin]

It looks like we've signed some quality UDFAs this year.

Coleman is my favorite. That kid is a beast.

[ServoBillieves]

A Corner and a Croner. I'm sensing a pattern...

[psubills62]

so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

Oh well, I guess a UDFA out of Howard is just camp fodder anyway.

Carrington is 285, drafted as a DE. It's not necessarily dependent on their weight so much as their strength. 285-295 is a fine weight for a weak-side DE.

Man, some people always need something to complain about. Either he's signing as a heavy OLB (in which case he would need to lose about 20 pounds, btw), which "doesn't say much for Maybin," or he's signing as a light DE.

Gee, I didn't realize our UDFA's had to meet such high standards to try out for the NFL.

[OpIv37]

Gee, I didn't realize our UDFA's had to meet such high standards to try out for the NFL.

MOST UDFA's dont. OUR UDFA's do because we have so many holes and did such a piss-poor job of filling them in the off-season. Since last season ended, we've gotten better at exactly ONE position: RB. And that was far from our biggest hole. So, we're desperate.

[Nighthawk]

280 isn't much of a DE in the 3-4.

That's a pretty standard size for a 3-4 DE...280-300 is pretty much what you're looking for.

[Buffalogic]

so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

Oh well, I guess a UDFA out of Howard is just camp fodder anyway.Lol everyone bulks up regardless of position when they enter the NFL. I'm not sure I understand what your problem is with his size? He's coming in at an adequate size for the position under any NFL'ers standards.

[New Ro's Greatest]

The weight is there but he is 6'2. Not the height your looking for in a 3-4 DE but hey welcome to the Bills Croner! GO BILLS:drool2:

[YardRat]

I have no problem with his weight...I found this interesting...


the versatile Croner started the season on offense as a tight end and fullback. He carried the ball twice and scored a TD. He also caught a pass.

When the team was hit with a rash of injuries that season, Croner, the consummate “team player” moved over on defense and responded with 43 tackles (25 solos), including 5.5 for losses and an interception. He also ranked among the best nationally (Football Championship Subdivision) in fumble recoveries with three.

[psubills62]

MOST UDFA's dont. OUR UDFA's do because we have so many holes and did such a piss-poor job of filling them in the off-season. Since last season ended, we've gotten better at exactly ONE position: RB. And that was far from our biggest hole. So, we're desperate.

Hahahaha I think this post speaks for its own ignorance.

[Scumbag College]

Why argue about an undrafted free agent? The odds they make the team is probably 1 in 10.

[BertSquirtgum]

Why argue about an undrafted free agent? The odds they make the team is probably 1 in 10.

on an average nfl team, yes. this team though? odds are probably 1 in 4

[OpIv37]

Hahahaha I think this post speaks for its own ignorance.

Yeah? What other position are we better at? Tell me.

[The Spaz]

I was wondering who the 14th UDFA was.

[psubills62]

Yeah? What other position are we better at? Tell me.

No matter how much you disliked the Troup pick, I have a REALLY hard time believing you think he's not an upgrade over Kyle Williams. A guy who played a 2-gap run-stuffer for 3.5 years isn't an upgrade over a penetrator who is under-sized and inexperienced at playing the zero technique?

Dwan Edwards and Carrington aren't upgrades over all the guys who 1) are old and sliding downhill (Stroud), 2) have never been anything more than depth (Spencer Johnson), or 3) have never played as 2-gap players (Stroud, Johnson both)?

Just the fact that we brought in more competition at WR (Easley), at OLB (Batten, Coleman), and at ILB (Moats) is an improvement. Calloway was also a good value pick (most EVALUATORS had him going in the 3rd-4th round, btw) and adds good depth to our OG situation, and can play RT in a pinch.

[The Spaz]

Delaware athletes: Croner doesn't need easy path to get to NFL

The words caught Will Croner's attention then. He remembers them now, and they'll ring in his head at the Buffalo Bills minicamp later this week, one more morsel of motivation for the long-shot rookie free agent.

The 2005 McKean High graduate was signed by the Bills on Sunday out of Howard University, where he was a second-team All-MEAC defensive end last fall for a team that didn't win a conference game.

The odds are against him, but the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Croner, who spent his first 2 1/2 college seasons playing offense, is used to that.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100428/SPORTS02/4280317/1002/SPORTS

[OpIv37]

No matter how much you disliked the Troup pick, I have a REALLY hard time believing you think he's not an upgrade over Kyle Williams. A guy who played a 2-gap run-stuffer for 3.5 years isn't an upgrade over a penetrator who is under-sized and inexperienced at playing the zero technique?

Dwan Edwards and Carrington aren't upgrades over all the guys who 1) are old and sliding downhill (Stroud), 2) have never been anything more than depth (Spencer Johnson), or 3) have never played as 2-gap players (Stroud, Johnson both)?

Just the fact that we brought in more competition at WR (Easley), at OLB (Batten, Coleman), and at ILB (Moats) is an improvement. Calloway was also a good value pick (most EVALUATORS had him going in the 3rd-4th round, btw) and adds good depth to our OG situation, and can play RT in a pinch.

Troup is our ONLY NT on the Roster. Williams CANNOT play NT. As much as I disliked our DT's last year, having only one rookie at NT is a DOWNGRADE, not an upgrade. I'd say the same thing if we had picked Cody: it's due to switching defenses and not adding an NT except a rookie.

Dwan Edwards is a DE in the 3-4. He's an experienced vet who basically replaces our vet DE's (Kelsay, Schobel) that have to become OLB's in the 3-4. That's a push.

At WR, we lost Reed and Owens. While they have their flaws, at the moment they're better than Parrish, S. Johnson, Hardy and Easley. At least we had experience before. Now, all we have is competition. Downgrade.

Calloway is not likely to help this season. Moats is being moved in so I don't see a rookie in a position switch helping much. We've been down that road FAR too many times. I don't see Batten as being a huge contributor.

[BertSquirtgum]

we got cronies

[acehole]

280 isn't much of a DE in the 3-4.

Phil hanson was 290 and bruce smith was lighter then 270 playing weight...not to say one is the other but doesnt sound like he is to light or he cant gain some

[OpIv37]

Phil hanson was 290 and bruce smith was lighter then 270 playing weight...not to say one is the other but doesnt sound like he is to light or he cant gain some

Unfortunately, you can't compare 20 years ago to today. The offensive linemen are bigger and more athletic, so the DL's have to be the same way.

[psubills62]

Troup is our ONLY NT on the Roster. Williams CANNOT play NT. As much as I disliked our DT's last year, having only one rookie at NT is a DOWNGRADE, not an upgrade. I'd say the same thing if we had picked Cody: it's due to switching defenses and not adding an NT except a rookie.

Dwan Edwards is a DE in the 3-4. He's an experienced vet who basically replaces our vet DE's (Kelsay, Schobel) that have to become OLB's in the 3-4. That's a push.

At WR, we lost Reed and Owens. While they have their flaws, at the moment they're better than Parrish, S. Johnson, Hardy and Easley. At least we had experience before. Now, all we have is competition. Downgrade.

Calloway is not likely to help this season. Moats is being moved in so I don't see a rookie in a position switch helping much. We've been down that road FAR too many times. I don't see Batten as being a huge contributor.

Williams can play NT, and it sounds like he will, at least on passing downs. How the heck can Troup be a downgrade on the 32nd ranked run defense? At this point, I'd take our current 3-man front over any 4-man front we had last year.

A push?? Hahaha, you're really calling Dwan Edwards, a guy who is known for being able to stop the run, a push over Kelsay/Schobel? Come on. Edwards/Carrington is an upgrade. You of all people should know that practically anyone is an upgrade over Kelsay.

The fact that you're trying to argue a position by position upgrade/downgrade when we've clearly switched schemes is quite funny. If you're going to go with that, I'd say that for sure our OLB's are MUCH better than last year's. Maybin, Ellis, Kelsay, Batten, possibly Schobel, are a significant upgrade over Mitchell/Ellison and whatever street junk we had starting by the end of the year.

I don't believe that our FO did a "piss-poor job" of filling the holes because they got young guys who have a lot of ability and should develop into starters. What else did you expect them to do? They signed some key FA's to help with the 3-4 transition, and drafted to address nearly every position of need. It's obvious this season isn't going to be a 10-6 season, so no, this team probably isn't better RIGHT NOW than last year's. Is it better coached? Yes. Does it have more of an identity? I believe so. Is there a coherent direction? Yes.

[OpIv37]

Williams can play NT, and it sounds like he will, at least on passing downs. How the heck can Troup be a downgrade on the 32nd ranked run defense? At this point, I'd take our current 3-man front over any 4-man front we had last year.

A push?? Hahaha, you're really calling Dwan Edwards, a guy who is known for being able to stop the run, a push over Kelsay/Schobel? Come on. Edwards/Carrington is an upgrade. You of all people should know that practically anyone is an upgrade over Kelsay.

The fact that you're trying to argue a position by position upgrade/downgrade when we've clearly switched schemes is quite funny. If you're going to go with that, I'd say that for sure our OLB's are MUCH better than last year's. Maybin, Ellis, Kelsay, Batten, possibly Schobel, are a significant upgrade over Mitchell/Ellison and whatever street junk we had starting by the end of the year.

I don't believe that our FO did a "piss-poor job" of filling the holes because they got young guys who have a lot of ability and should develop into starters. What else did you expect them to do? They signed some key FA's to help with the 3-4 transition, and drafted to address nearly every position of need. It's obvious this season isn't going to be a 10-6 season, so no, this team probably isn't better RIGHT NOW than last year's. Is it better coached? Yes. Does it have more of an identity? I believe so. Is there a coherent direction? Yes.

You missed the point on Troupe. Troupe isn't a downgrade in and of himself. It's due to the position switch. Last year, we had Stroud, Williams, Spencer Johnson and McCargo playing DT in the 4-3. They weren't that good at it, BUT< this year we need NT's, and so far, we have a rookie in Troup and Williams, who is NOT a 3-4 NT (despite how the Bills will use him). Last year's DT's in the 4-3 are still superior to this year's in the 3-4 by virtue of the alignment switch and lack of the proper personnel.

The FO completely ignored the NT position until Troupe. The FO did nothing about T except sign Green, who isn't even an adequate replacement for Butler. The FO did nothing about WR except add one rookie, despite losing two WR's from last year. The FO is attempting to fill OLB with guys who were DE's last year (and piss poor DE's at that) and rookies. The FO added one aging vet and one rookie at ILB, despite needing two starting ILB's in the same scheme. The FO did nothing about QB (although, I won't fault them for this- there just weren't any good options).

[TigerJ]

The best part of this is his transition to the Bills should be really easy. He won't even have to get accustomed to a new logo.

[TigerJ]

Troup is our ONLY NT on the Roster. Williams CANNOT play NT. As much as I disliked our DT's last year, having only one rookie at NT is a DOWNGRADE, not an upgrade. I'd say the same thing if we had picked Cody: it's due to switching defenses and not adding an NT except a rookie.

Dwan Edwards is a DE in the 3-4. He's an experienced vet who basically replaces our vet DE's (Kelsay, Schobel) that have to become OLB's in the 3-4. That's a push.

At WR, we lost Reed and Owens. While they have their flaws, at the moment they're better than Parrish, S. Johnson, Hardy and Easley. At least we had experience before. Now, all we have is competition. Downgrade.

Calloway is not likely to help this season. Moats is being moved in so I don't see a rookie in a position switch helping much. We've been down that road FAR too many times. I don't see Batten as being a huge contributor.

He is a total unknown and came out of a small college, but Lonnie Harvey certainly has nose tackle size. There was no reason to expect anything out of him last year, his rookie season, but with some weight training and a couple of training camps, maybe Harvey can at least contribute in a reserve role.

[Mahdi]

so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

Oh well, I guess a UDFA out of Howard is just camp fodder anyway.
280 pounds is typical for a 3-4 DE prospect.

[Night Train]

Fodder or practice squad material. Probably needs to hit the weights for a year.

[YardRat]

Harvey or Favorite may surprise, or they may be camp fodder, but both are prototypical NT's and along with Troup that brings three guys to TC that are on the roster and definitely fit the nose.

[jamze132]

Andra Davis is a significant upgrade over Mitchell.

[YardRat]

I was wondering who the 14th UDFA was.

I think Croner makes 15...

http://www.billsdaily.com/frontoffice/

Undrafted Free Agents - unofficial & official list
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif DE/OLB Antonio Coleman (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1113511) Signed - 4/28 http://www.billsdaily.com/images/updated.gif
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif S Dominique Harris (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/559904) Signed - 4/28 http://www.billsdaily.com/images/updated.gif
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif OL Kyle Mutcher Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif ILB Mike Wright (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1116105) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif OL Jorge Guerra Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif OL Cordaro Howard (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/584097) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif WR David Nelson (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/564166) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif C/G Sean Allen (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1245885) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif CB Stephan Virgil (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1243342) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif S Brett Johnson (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/559556) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif WR Naaman Roosevelt (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1123426) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif RB Joique Bell (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1662348) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif WR Donald Jones (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1637537) Unofficially Signed
http://www.billsdaily.com/images/blueball.gif CB John Destin (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1265555) Unofficially Signed

[Tatonka]

people will find anything to get sand in their vagina's about.

[justasportsfan]

so, basically, he's a guy that doesn't fit our D unless he bulks up. This team is great at finding players that need to either gain 20 lbs of pure muscle or change position to be effective.

.
He's an UDRFA . Sheez. You're *****ing just to *****.

[Jan Reimers]

Some guys on here should be in the Bills' FO. Their clairvoyance would guarantee perfect draft and UDFA selections.

[Stewie]

rofl @ calling a 21 year old 280 pound kid "too small" - he's not freaking done growing into his body

lol @ telling a pro football veteran he CANNOT possibly play football in CAPITAL letters no less despite his presence on the planet and roster for a professional football team

lmao @ judging people year after year on numbers on a piece of paper. as if weighing 10 pounds and having one inch on a guy automatically makes you better.

really, it's comical.